Elisa Royale

I think I found her.  Elisa is a nice girl.  Almost boring.  She is a math geek and is a senior manager at a aeronautics firm.  Currently unemployed she heads to the Bahamas when she learns her father is missing.  I haven't figured out how to set up a poll, so just leave a comment in the box...I'll get it.

Predictability and Plausibility

I figured out a long time ago what my reading pet peeves are.  Predictability and Plausibility.  If I can tell who did it two chapters in, that book may not get finished.  Same goes for plausibility.  Too many coincidences and the author loses street cred with me.  I need a reason to turn that page.

Last night, I was still trying to come up with a plausible reason for Dakheel to lash out, in Deadly Paradise.  This is not the beginning of story, but it's what sparked my interest to create Dak's story.  I asked a dozen male FB friends what they thought would set a man off, other than cheating.  I was very surprised by the response.  Almost all of them replied lies and/or secrets.

So, today I sat down and began working on my plot outline.  I usually start with a general idea of my character.  Then I troll the Internet until I find an image that brings that character to life for me.  I was pleased with the image that I came up with for Dakheel.  (Even though the model is Indian and not Algerian, he had the look I was going for.)  Elisa is still an vague image in my head.  I'm starting to see her character, but her face still eludes me.  All I do know is that she is going to screw up big time, probably with a lie of omission.

I decided on Huntsville and Nassau, as primary settings, because I am familiar with both of those locales, and wouldn't have to waste time with a lot of pre-writing research.  Also, there are some social issues, I would like to explore.

Then, I usually work on my bad guy.  In this case, I wanted him to be smooth and not necessarily evil, but definitely self-centered.  Think I've come up with a character I am going to love to hate.

I made it to Chapter 6 in my outline, before life got in the way.  I know how this is going to end...just not sure of the journey.

The New Man in my life

Last night I asked my Facebook friends to help me create a character.  I couldn't see him clearly.  Just felt the impact of his fist as he hit the plaster behind a woman's head.  I could hear see him rest his head on the wall and whisper, so only she could hear, "do you love me?.  That's it.  Nothing else. 

Today, I know him much better.

Meet Dakheel Hason Katton. 32 years old,  he is the son of an Algerian textile merchant.  They create high quality linen sold throughout the world.  His mother is European.  Sadly, she died when he was only 6 years old.  He was raised in London,by his maternal grandparents, but spent his summers with his Father.  His name means beautiful foreigner.   He loves the desert and the culture of his father, but also appreciates the hustle and bustle of London.  He has been educated in the US, UK and Saudi Arabia.  He speaks English, Arabic, Spanish and French.  He can read Latin and hold a decent conversation in Japanese.   He has a pretty good relationship with his siblings.  Thanks, in part to his father' wife.  She has never held the circumstances of his birth against him.  Always treated him as one of her own.  He has it all, but does not have a place that he call home.  But all of that is about to change.

Dak is the Bahamas to survey  a potential site for his family's business.  He becomes involved with, Elisa Royale, a woman who ignites protective instincts he didn't know he had.  She has become his obsession.  Unfortunately, she has a secret that is going to test this very new, very volatile relationship.  Will their relationship survive the revelations?

I haven't decided yet :)